« FLIGHT
Seventy-fourth of the Current Recognition Series
Aircraft Types and
INVADER A 36
FIRST news of the Invader, known to the U.S.A.A.F.as the A-36, came at the time of the fighting inSicily. It is, as is now well known, the fighter-dive-
bomber version of the North American Mustang, and itwould appear that this excellent American aircraft, widely
regarded as one of the most successful fighter types theU.S. has so far produced, bids fair to compete with the
Hurricane in the matter of versatility.
It is probable that the airframe of the Mustang hasundergone some stiffening to fit it for the extra loads which
it would have to withstand as the Invader, but, apart fromthat, the only visible modifications are the provision of
bomb-racks beneath the wings, and dive brakes.
The bomb-racks, which normally carry two 500 lb.bombs, take the place of the two outer machine-guns of
the Mustang version, while the dive brakes are similar tothose ol the Vultee Vengeance dive-bomber. They are
fitted above and below the wings outboard of the bomb-racks and are of the slotted type, the slots being vertical
when in the operating position. When closed in normalflight, they lie in recesses flush with the wing surfaces,
but they are still visible and, when the machine is seen
from above, provide the only quick and sure means ofdistinguishing between a Mustang and an Invader.
Only the Allison-engined Mustang, with a top speed ofabout 350 m.p.h., has, so tar, been modified into Invader
form, but it is fairly safe to hazard a guess that whenthe Merlin-engined version is sufficiently advanced in terms
of quantity production, this very much "hotter" editionwill also begin to appear as (possibly) the Invader II.
Armament of the Invader, in addition to its bomb-load,comprises two 0.5m. machine-guns firing from blast tubes
undei the nose and synchronised to miss the airscrew, andfour machine-guns in the wings firing outside the airscrew
disc. The wing guns may be either 0.5m. or 0.303m.Incidentally, although primarily intended to be a fighter-
dive-bomber, the Invader remains a sufficiently good fighterto take qn escort duties in the Italian theatre and has
been successfully employed as such.
Other recognition features of the Invader include wingsand tailplane which have a straight taper on both edges
and square tips, a radiator beneath the fuselage amidship^angular, but symmetrical fin and rudder, and long, slim/
oval-sectioned fuselage.
UNDERCARRIAGE
RETRACTS
INWARDS
Span
Length
Height
Wing area
.. 37ft.
.. 32ft 3in
.. 8ft. 8in
235.75 s<j. ft